A Malacañang official has slammed the Human Rights Watch (HRW) for its "gross distortions" in an article that alleged the drug-related killings have doubled during the coronavirus lockdown.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the human rights body should avoid using "unqualified and unverified data and conclusions" about the country's human rights situation.
"We denounce the attempt of the Human Rights Watch (HRW), through its writer Carlos Conde, to present anew gross distortions of the situation in the Philippines with the article 'Killings in Philippines Up 50 Percent during Pandemic,'" Andanar said.
"The article has weak methodological anchor, and severely falsifies realities in the country," he added.
Andanar urged HRW and other human rights watchdogs to uphold the highest level of integrity and credibility supposedly to keep their "relevance and positive force."
"We ask the HRW to avoid the use of unqualified and unverified data and conclusions derived from flawed methodologies and drawn with ideological blinders," he added.
The HRW article, posted online on Sept. 8, stated that the Duterte government's war on drugs has "worsened" during the coronavirus lockdown based on state statistics. The article claimed that 50 percent more people were supposedly killed between April to July 2020 compared to the previous four months.
"Human Rights Watch analyzed the government’s statistics and found 155 persons were killed in the past four months. Before the Covid-19 crisis, police killed 103 persons from December 2019 to March 2020," the article said.
From July 1, 2016 to July 31, 2020, the government reported that 5,810 persons died during anti-drug operations. Around 251,889 persons have been arrested in more than 173,000 anti-drug operations.
Andanar, however, insisted that the government has actually prioritized the human rights and dignity of Filipinos during the pandemic. Socioeconomic interventions have been implemented to help the people affected by the outbreak.
The government also remains committed to pursue the anti-illegal drug campaign with its comprehensive community-based approaches and lawful enforcement operations throughout the pandemic, according to Andanar.
The Palace official also rejected anew "sweeping" and "unfounded" allegations" of State-sanctioned extra judicial killings.
He said the government has a firm intention to probe such allegations if substantiated and prosecute cases. He noted that internal accountability mechanisms within the law enforcement agencies are in place to make sure any wrongdoing is addressed.
"Contrary to Mr. Conde’s claim, the Duterte administration remains and continues to be receptive and willing to engage with individuals, groups, and organizations to constructively act on relevant matters and issues, especially on human rights," he said.